modormenace: (Default)
modormenace ([personal profile] modormenace) wrote in [community profile] f20202020-09-15 12:53 am

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020: THE SYNOD IS CONVENING.

All fourteen Gates simultaneously reverse polarity. For the next seven days, and only these seven days, any imPort stepping through a Gate will arrive safely in the Porter building: the only place on this fractured planet that can safely contain the energy of the imPort community in its entirety.
SO IT BEGINS
THE SYNOD
THE
DEATH
TRAIN

While the Gates are the simplest form of transportation, those making the journey to the Synod from the White Tower have the option of travelling by train, if they wish. Despite the playfully grim moniker, there haven't been any recorded fatalities on board the Death Train in many years. Or ever, really. Raw, untamed entropy doesn't do anything as simple as kill.

For that delightful reason, passengers will be reminded at frequent intervals not to attempt to leave the train once it enters the active zone of the Porter's defenses, or to do anything that could jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

The journey is relatively comfortable and takes approximately two and a half hours. A limited menu of pastries and alcohol is available from the buffet car. The smallest tables seat two.

 

As the train passes through the entropy-saturated wasteland of the Deathdome, the view from the heavily tinted windows of each of the train's four-person cars is impossible to comprehend: every atom of the landscape is in a constant state of flux, scattered in endless possibilities across the multiverse.

WELCOME CARPET

Inside, you get the impression of three towers; no view from outside is possible. You're totally sealed inside for the week, by the same Fate-built tech that shields this place from the ravages of cosmic radiation— the train station is built into the structure, entrance tunnel hermetically sealed.

You're greeted by welcome robots, primitive little things full endless enthusiasm and covered in dents. What they lack in intelligence they make up for in persistence and durability. Each and every ImPort is assigned their own personal robutler.

Though they tend to hinder more than help.

Boop boop boop boop. They provide you with a complimentary swag bag. Inside is one (1) t-shirt, one (1) top of the line tablet (pre-loaded with this year's Agenda and a simple game app that looks suspiciously like 2048), a stress ball, personalised souvenir pen and eraser (but no pencil), and of course, a lanyard keycard for accessing the comfortably adequate accommodations provided for all attendees.

Given the week-long Synod, your room itself is a decent suite, furnished with dark colors, redolent with a smell you can't quite place. You may find yourself assigned an unexpected roommate, which may feel awkward considering you'll find arrayed on the beds, a half-dozen complimentary tickets to the spa, restaurants and the power gym, with its preternaturally durable equipment.

Robutlers constantly remind: do not attempt to leave the Porter facility or do anything to jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

CONVENTION

Talks and panels take place in the convention area, which feels like a miniature city within the Porter's defenses, a hive with padded audience seats, wide stages, and complete with holographic audiovisual equipment that's curiously compatible with presentation software from every city.

Here, ImPorts will present and debate various topics regarded as major concerns for all. [OOCly, players are invited to suggest topics! Scroll down; they will be added below.]

This is also something of an expo, where cities practically demonstrate— or show off their good works. From the latest hovertechnology models to demonstrations of healing powers, playful duels in the forcefield-enclosed stages to magical books that temporarily transfer skills on touch, this is the place to pretend you're showing off your cards... while playing the most important ones close to your chest.

PANELS AND DEBATES

PRESENTERS
TOPIC
Joseph Kavinsky vs [N/PC]
White Tower ImPort Overpopulation and Dimensional Instability
Tony Stark and other technopaths
How Technology Will Save Us
Joshua Foley
The Mysteries and Intricacies of ImPort Physiology
Count Dooku and volunteers
ImPort Factions Must Align Against the Shared 'Resistance' Threat
Jin Bubaigawara (x3)
The Twin Cities are NOT Dimensionally Unstable No Matter What You Heard
Kang
Bridging Old and New: Maintaining Infrastructure with Limited Modern Resources
EVENING
EVENTS

Every night of the Synod, ImPorts gather to dine in a grand hall with a ballroom party. Each dinner is hosted by one ImPort city, gruntwork complete with robutlers-- which guarantees food safety, and complete with multiple cuisine options, cultural decor, and entertainment.

Given the range of cities represented, food options vary from greasy burgers to six courses of seafood and blue venison, and rarefied vegan fare.

When ImPorts aren't here eating, they're most often talking. Ergo, it's not uncommon for low-key drama to break out, but this year, the majority of Synod days seem to be passing uneventfully.

Fortunately, speeches are reserved for daytime. After dinner, it's time to dance.

 

The last song of the night is always obscure music no one can quite remember the words or melody to afterward. It's a slow dance song meant for two or more partners; the ballroom grows dark and the world seems to fade away. Or rather, it just fades back into one's hotel room.

THE BLACKOUT

On Monday, September 21st, shortly before the Gates are due to resume ordinary function and allow attendees to leave, the Porter building suffers a power cut.

Abruptly, all the lights cut out. Music stops. Your faithful robutler freezes in place, unresponsive— though its internal systems appear to be running, the centralised command hub that it relies on has fallen silent.

Though the robutlers are out of comission, technology-minded ImPorts and their tech drones hasten to reassure that systems analyses are underway. Within a few hours, repairs begin, the estimated time being two days.

In the meantime, thanks to the diversity of powers on hand, there is enough food and water. Candles start to circulate. It might even be a little romantic, if it weren't for the chaos outside. Characters might find themselves trapped in an elevator for a few hours, or compelled to seek comfort from one another.

desmodusdraculae: (034)

[personal profile] desmodusdraculae 2020-09-30 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
The other factions seem to thrive on paranoia. Olin Vale must be doing something, because they can't imagine anyone wanting to stay out of their nonsense.

I think the more we try to stay out of things, the more suspicious we look to these assholes.
sighsheavily: (pic#14281462)

[personal profile] sighsheavily 2020-10-03 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[she folds her arms tightly, her expression more openly showing how vexed she is for a moment until she draws a breath, reminding herself to keep a lid on her temper.

after a beat, she gives Kirk a sidelong glance.]


Speaking of which, have you happened to overhear anything worth knowing coming from these strangers?
desmodusdraculae: (025)

[personal profile] desmodusdraculae 2020-10-05 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Look, don't shoot the messenger. He's just here to deliver the message. He moved to Olin Vale to get away from all this, remember?]

No, and I've been keeping my ears open. The usual inter-faction squabbles like always. Krakoa seems like it's up to something, but nothing that would affect Olin Vale.
sighsheavily: (pic#14281462)

[personal profile] sighsheavily 2020-10-05 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
A small blessing, that. [that seems to cool her anxiety a smidgen.] Would that it stay that way, though I won't hold my breath. And neither should you.

[she glances back at him, considering something quietly for a beat.

then:]
The red-headed youngster, Luke. I didn't feel keen on bringing him, but I'd imagine exposing a newcomer to the way things work around here was better sooner rather than later.

Should trouble arise, please see to him, will you? He seems the sort to find himself in peril rather quickly, be it circumstance or that sass mouth of his.
desmodusdraculae: (121)

[personal profile] desmodusdraculae 2020-10-06 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
I never do.

[And he doesn't mean that as a monster thing. This place just sucks.

At the mention of Luke, Kirk all but rolls his eyes.]


You mean his lordship, the Duke of Kielbasa-Lavender? Yeah, we've met. With that mouth of his I don't think I could stop a fight, but I can intervene on his behalf if it gets out of hand.
Edited 2020-10-06 00:45 (UTC)
sighsheavily: (pic#14281459)

[personal profile] sighsheavily 2020-10-10 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[her mouth tugs a bit.]

Yes. Let's just avoid an incident that'll lead to too many eyes focused on the Vale in any case. Best we can.
desmodusdraculae: (138)

[personal profile] desmodusdraculae 2020-10-13 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
I'd say that more depends on whether or not his lordship can avoid swinging his kielbasa around for an entire week.
sighsheavily: (pic#14281461)

[personal profile] sighsheavily 2020-10-18 03:52 pm (UTC)(link)
His...what? [she gives Kirk a hard squint............................then decides it's not worth investigating.]

In any case, thank you. Perhaps we'll find ourselves still in one piece by the end of the week.